Gothic was once a booming mining town that disappeared into ghost town status when the mining industry went bust. The area is situated approximately eight miles north of Crested Butte near Copper Creek and the East River. Gothic sits at the shadow of the Gothic Mountain which towers at 12,625 feet high. Today the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory owns most of the area of Gothic. The RMBL owns 250 acres and more than 60 structures in Gothic. The RMBL is a premier field station that promotes the protection of ecosystems in high altitudes through both education and research.

Gothic is rich in science activities, especially in the summer because of the lab and number of biologists in the area. Gothic is unique in that it combines the old mining world of yesteryear with cutting edge scientific technology of today.

There are a number of hotels in the area that provide accommodations to visitors of the area. Although not in number, there are a few restaurants as well but mostly the town is comprised of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory buildings and structures. Visitors arrive from all over the world to observe the modern technology and scientific applications used in Gothic.